Michigan Tech News

Michelle Jacob to Become Women’s Soccer Program’s First Coach

Michigan Technological University athletic director Suzanne Sanregret announced today the hiring of Michelle Jacob as the school’s first-ever women’s soccer coach. The former head coach at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wis., will begin the duties of starting Tech’s soccer program from scratch Feb. 8.

“We’re excited to have Michelle join our staff,” said Sanregret. “She has experienced success both as a player and coach, and she possesses a recruiting background in areas that will be critical for us to build a strong program.

“We’re very confident that Michelle will work tirelessly to bring our program to a high level both on and off the field. We believe she will be a great fit with the University and athletic department and look forward to working with her.”

Jacob has been the head coach at Marian for the past three seasons, where she led the Sabres to a 32-24-1 record. The program was 4-12-1 the year prior to her arrival and finished 11-7-1 a year ago with a Northern Athletics Conference Tournament semifinal berth. Her 2008 squad set school records for regular season wins and longest winning streak.

Prior to taking over at Marian, Jacob spent three seasons as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Wisconsin-Stevens Point under an NCAA Women and Ethnic Minority Grant. She helped lead the Pointers to a 36-16-5 overall record and a 16-5-3 mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She also worked as the assistant to the athletic director handling event management for all sports and advising UWSP’s Student-Athletic Advisory Committee.

“We are thrilled to get an individual with Michelle’s qualifications,” said Pat Joyce, who serves as Tech’s faculty athletics representative. “We had a very strong and diverse pool of candidates, and Michelle really stood out.”

Jacob turned in a stellar four-year playing career at UW-Stevens Point while earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She was an All-America First Team selection and the WIAC Player of the Year in 2001. The midfielder was a key component in the Pointers compiling a 75-15-2 record and four WIAC titles during her four years.

“I am incredibly excited to have this opportunity to work at Michigan Tech,” said Jacob. “Through the interview process, I was very impressed with the quality of the educational opportunities for student-athletes, the passionate and dedicated staff and the facilities at Tech.

“I am really eager to work with the student-athletes who will be the foundation for the success of this program. Putting together asuccessful, competitive program at this level is a phenomenal challenge, and I can’t wait to get started.”

The Huskies’ women’s soccer team will open play this fall with membership in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Tech will play 15 league games and will schedule three non-conference tilts for the NCAA maximum allowed number of 18 regular season contests.

In addition to her coaching duties, Jacob will be an instructor in Michigan Tech’s Department of Exercise Science and Health and Physical Education.

Michigan Tech announced the addition of the women’s soccer program this past October as an effort to bolster women’s enrollment on campus. A longtime University supporter donated 100 percent of the costs associated with starting up the new program, which gives Tech 14 varsity sports—seven women’s and seven men’s.

Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 130 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.

Original URL: http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2010/january/michelle-jacob-become-womens-soccer-programs-first-coach.html